Andy’s Story
In 2014, following a period of feeling unwell, an endoscopy showed I had a 5.5cm tumour at the top of my stomach/bottom of my oesophagus; it was late October and by late December, it had grown to around 12cm. At the time of being diagnosed, I was running a not-for-profit I had founded delivering holistic treatments to communities across the Northwest and I am a former Royal Marine.
I was offered chemo and radiotherapy; I turned them both down.
Due to the location of tumour, the amount of food that I was able to get inside me was getting less and less, until eventually I could get no solids in; my last meal was the beginning of November 2014. My weight dropped to around 7 stone/46 kilos.
I was rushed into hospital as my body was closing me down to prepare me for surgery mid-January; this included fattening me up with liquid feed. While getting ready for surgery, I decided to give me something positive to focus on and booked 4 triathlons post-surgery. I also decided to go back to working in the outdoors and retrain as a mountain guide and climbing instructor, booking myself on relevant courses for later in the year.
I went under the knife on the 16th of January 2015, and as soon as possible, was out of my bed and walking. As well as a partial gastrectomy leaving me with half my stomach, I also had a partial oesophagectomy, 70% of my diaphragm being removed and some lymph nodes too! I have since found out that the tumour was grapefruit size and I had stage 4 (T4B) stomach cancer. I did not remember what I was told at the time!! First, it was only 30m maximum; walking along with my trolley, tubes everywhere and swinging my catheter bottle to keep improve my circulation.
I kept walking, further, more frequently, I did not stop!
Other people were motivated to do likewise, one person stopping by my room to thank me for inspiring him; it was the I noticed others on wards arguing with doctors and nurses to get out of bed and walk!!
Out of hospital, I kept moving, and the June after surgery (in January) I took part in my first triathlon, second in July and then two in one weekend the September after my op. I continued using exercise to help me with my recovery and healing, and several years ago decided to run 12 ultra marathons over a 12-month period. After 5, I developed a hernia, and after a period of rest, was out training again. I decided that as I’d had some time out from running, decided to run the remaining ultras over subsequent weekends, plus an additional training run which turned out to be an ultra!! These ultras were mainly on my own and over the Welsh mountains.
It has all been an amazing journey, and having cancer has been the most positive experience of my life, an adventure for which I am grateful for and through which everyone I have met is so incredible .
Tomorrow? Who knows, and whatever else, it’s another chance to be grateful to smile whatever it brings.
